Darwin man Matthew Maurice lands million-dollar barramundi in NT fishing competition

A 26-year-old Darwin man, Matthew Maurice, has become an instant millionaire after catching a specially tagged barramundi in the Northern Territory’s Million Dollar Fish competition. Maurice was fishing at night with his brother, who was visiting from overseas, when he reeled in the 80cm fish bearing a red tag worth $1 million. The catch came after a casual decision to go fishing following football training, highlighting the competition’s appeal to everyday anglers. The Million Dollar Fish competition, run by Northern Territory Tourism, aims to boost tourism and recreational fishing in the region by offering substantial cash prizes for tagged barramundi. Maurice’s win is one of the competition’s headline moments, demonstrating how ordinary fishing trips can turn into life-changing events. His humble reaction—saying he’s just happy to catch fish—resonates with the local fishing community and underscores the competition’s role in promoting the NT’s world-class fishing experiences. The win is expected to draw more attention to the competition and the Territory’s fishing tourism sector, with more tagged fish still swimming in NT waters. For Maurice, the windfall is a remarkable reward for a spontaneous night on the water with family.